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Post by stonedaddy on Sept 3, 2015 8:47:32 GMT
Blimey Tom, that's a bit posh. Have you won the lottery, or did you just have a couple of weekends off the ale? LOL, no Rob still do me weekends. It was more than I bargained for but it was in that years price range. I was hoping Alec and Baz might make a donation but I think hoping will be has far as it gets . When I got home Jose said whats it like?. I said its outside go have a look. She said I will wait until tomorrow morning, LOL she still in bed snoring. I think she would have more interest in a pomegranate seed with attitude than the van, even if it was a bran new £100,000 + Burstner stood out there. .... Tom ....
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Post by caz on Sept 3, 2015 9:29:04 GMT
Thought of you last night when I read a post on one of the motorhome groups on facebook from someone who's back Al-ko axle on their Kon Tiki had bust. Sorry the transplant isn't going well, hope you don't have to scrap it as it's a lovely van.
However, Plan B looks good too. Hope Josie's arms feel better and she is able to go with you and enjoy.
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Post by Firefox on Sept 3, 2015 10:33:43 GMT
I think the newer Rimor 678 front bedrooms have a bit more bulbous shape to the dormer. Streamlined! But no wood anywhere you are right, just egg boxes, plastic, and toffee for glue. You will certainly appreciate the steering and gear change on the later models though, they really have come on
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Post by molly2 on Sept 14, 2015 20:54:36 GMT
Hi Tom just found your posts, sound like everything is stacked against you .keep your spirit up and have great time in France .hope Josie is getting better ,wish I was there. Bazz
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Post by billieblue on Sept 14, 2015 21:35:30 GMT
Hi Bazz, we're here. Tom's not liking his new baby apart from the power steering! But he's a stubborn so and so who doesn't want to let go of the so called iron horse but I think he'll concede ...
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Post by molly2 on Sept 15, 2015 0:15:28 GMT
Hi Bazz, we're here. Tom's not liking his new baby apart from the power steering! But he's a stubborn so and so who doesn't want to let go of the so called iron horse but I think he'll concede ... He realy loves the old iron horse he has put so much into it , I think he has enjoyed rebuilding it as much as using it ,have a great time and keep your head down Bazz.
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Post by campervanannie on Sept 15, 2015 1:46:30 GMT
Have fun you guys and don't forget plenty of pics Josie hope your feeling better no hitting Tom you need to rest that arm. Lol
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Post by Is it spring yet, dormouse? on Sept 20, 2015 18:41:12 GMT
Just catching up after weeks of not logging on.
Liking the new van, Tom! Hope you're having a good time in France.
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Post by billieblue on Sept 23, 2015 20:46:07 GMT
He is cos he's sat in my van having a beer!
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Post by molly2 on Sept 23, 2015 21:00:04 GMT
Mm mm I'm sat in front of the fire having a small whisky ,my own wisky , bazz
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Post by billieblue on Sept 23, 2015 21:18:12 GMT
No fires needed down in the south of France Baz!
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Post by andyjanet on Oct 21, 2015 19:11:37 GMT
This threads gone very cold, Tom are you back from France and what's happening with the axle, the suspense is killing me. Andy
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Post by penny13 on Oct 21, 2015 21:34:18 GMT
Hey Tom we normally have a dozen photos and updates of your travels ? I look forward to them Missing you
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Post by billieblue on Oct 21, 2015 21:44:59 GMT
Yes Tom is back. He's probably too busy with his axle to sort his photos out!
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Post by Firefox on Oct 21, 2015 23:19:04 GMT
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Post by Is it spring yet, dormouse? on Oct 22, 2015 8:37:10 GMT
Two Van Tom! I've been busy this summer and not on the forums much. I gather Stonedaddy has been a greedy so-and-so and now has TWO vans to his name! Some people, eh?!
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Post by billieblue on Oct 22, 2015 9:23:26 GMT
Two Van Tom! I've been busy this summer and not on the forums much. I gather Stonedaddy has been a greedy so-and-so and now has TWO vans to his name! Some people, eh?! Careful, Marie, I don't think Tom quite sees it that way! ?
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Post by stonedaddy on Oct 24, 2015 10:40:01 GMT
OK due to rain stop play I thought I would update the axle saga for those interested in its progress. I have been working on it since I got home from France, and the first job was to cut the old axle plates off so I could extend the shorter plates that actually form part of the chassis. Cutting these plates down looked a bit daunting until Nige put me onto these discs that look so flimsy you would not think they would cut 1/4" steel down but they sure did the job. Cheers Nige they worked a treat. .... Tom .... free screen capture
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Post by stonedaddy on Oct 24, 2015 11:44:47 GMT
The next job was to weld the the old plates to the new axle I had them all prepared the welder out all plugged in. I was just about to start when I remembered my guy who does MOTs is a stickler for any welding and he actually failed a weld on the chassis on my second MOT. I decided to get a mate in to do the welding to make sure it would not fail any MOTs. He also passed his welding on the one that failed earlier. As soon as other people become involved the job stops has I had to then wait for him to call the next evening to do the job, so that was virtually two lost days again and winter draws nearer. Well they are welded now and the results are below. .... Tom ....
how to take a screen shothow to screenshot on windows 7
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Post by stonedaddy on Oct 24, 2015 11:55:01 GMT
The next job was to move the brake compensator bracket from the stub axle bearing holder nearly 3" higher than where it was on the new axle. Once again Nigel's discs cut it off at the old weld and it was re-welded higher up the bearing housing (this I have a feeling I will regret doing later on in the job). It may be lower due to it being a different tension axle who knows. Well its done now with the results below. .... Tom .... post a picture
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Post by stonedaddy on Oct 24, 2015 11:59:01 GMT
Goodness Jose must have felt sorry for me one morning and she brought me breakfast into the garage. Notice the French connection with those buns ... .... Tom .... free picture upload
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Post by stonedaddy on Oct 24, 2015 12:06:37 GMT
Well the axle is now all ready for refitting, all the work is done on it but the hard part is till to come, lifting it back into position. The lorry firm who brought it up from Oxford said they reckon it must be the best part of half a ton. Below it waits for it to be rehoused in its new home. .... Tom .... images hosting
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Post by stonedaddy on Oct 24, 2015 12:31:06 GMT
The good news is yesterday I got the axle back into its housing on the van. It took most of the day to do. I had a Trolly jack, two hydraulic jacks, two screw jacks, a ton of bricks and wood blocks. It went up a inch at a time first one side then the other. As it reached a brick thickness I added one under each drum backplate, then up again a bit at a time until another brick thickness. In the end it got to its height and I fitted the half inch bolts and hey presto it was home. My worry about the brake compensating bracket looks to be coming true because it does not look as though it as worked out to be in the right place at the right angle but I will worry about that later when rebuilding it all up. I have now decided to put the brake drums on with nothing inside them and to fit the wheels. I will then lower the van onto the wheels and see if it holds the weight OK. If it sits to low I will have to decide weather to scrap it or carry on and get a replacement axle off the guy who sold me this one has its all paid for. But the transporting problems and the redoing the job again is very off putting. I was going to build everything back to working order but that seems pointless if it all has to come off again because the axle is no good. It should have been close to being back on its wheels now for a test weighing but the weather has put paid to that today unless it eases up and stops raining later. Tomorrow is my day down the pub so it looks like Monday before anything else is done on it and that depends on weather too. Ah well its said to triers. .... Tom ....
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Post by molly2 on Oct 24, 2015 13:06:45 GMT
Keeping my fingers crossed that it takes the weight .bazz
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Post by andyjanet on Oct 24, 2015 13:21:27 GMT
It was like the cliff edge that a good film provides just before they go for a commercial break only you went away and stayed away and stayed away, I got withdrawal symptoms, then the shakes, then I thought we had upset you, but your back and the saga continues, if the vans too heavy at the back move some of the stuff into your glovebox I am sure that will sort it , best wishes with the rest of the build. Andy
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Post by Firefox on Oct 24, 2015 20:20:36 GMT
Great story Tom. I am following every twist and turn.
Just wondering if it sits a bit low if you could upgrade something like the shocks and get it OK overall?
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Post by stonedaddy on Oct 24, 2015 20:51:01 GMT
Well later this afternoon the weather dried up and I got stuck in and put the wheels and brake drums on temporarily. I then let it back down on its wheels for the first time since the caerphilly meet back in July. It settled nicely and quiet high. I climbed on the tow bar and jumped up and down and that made it settle some more. It is about normal hight now but it is completely unladen so no doubt room for more downward settling. I have left it on its wheels until Monday which will give it more time to settle. a couple of pic's of the axle in place at long last. .... Tom .... image hosting 10mb limit
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Post by stonedaddy on Oct 24, 2015 20:55:30 GMT
Great story Tom. I am following every twist and turn. Just wondering if it sits a bit low if you could upgrade something like the shocks and get it OK overall? It might stiffen it up a bit Vern when I put the shocks on but they are only dampers and it will settle back to it own posistion. There is no brakes or cables fitted. Also the center torsion bar is not on yet. I will check it out on Monday and if it looks OKish I will take it up again and carry one rebuilding it. .... Tom ....
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Post by Firefox on Oct 24, 2015 21:46:41 GMT
You're just going to have to put all the Guinness nearer the front axle maybe!
I do hope it works, it's such a great van inside, quite a welcome change from the more modern van interiors, with all the woodwork.
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Post by billieblue on Oct 25, 2015 9:27:48 GMT
Vernon, don't say things like that.....he'll hate his new van even more!
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